Shopping Cart

E567 Baroque Gray Rare Pearl from the 17th Century set into a Ring:

Sun, 08/26/2018 - 17:44 — pam

E567

This lovely Pearl was handed down from family to family. It was set into a brooch in the late 1600's as it was handed down in the family it was told to have been in a pendant or necklace. It could have been reset in other jewelry also. In the 1840's to 50's it was set into a ring. The ring is handmade of 18 karat yellow gold. I purchased it in Fredericksburg, VA.
The size of the pearl alone is 9mm x 11mm x 10mm. It is an outstanding pearl.

"All art is autobiographical. The pearl is the oyster's autobiography."
— Federico Fellini

Baroque pearl, the pearl that is irregularly or oddly shaped. Pearl formation does not always occur in soft-tissue areas, where the expanding pearl sac grows regularly because it encounters no appreciable resistance. Pearl cysts are sometimes lodged in muscular tissue, for example, where, unable to overcome the resistance of tough muscle fibers, they assume irregular or unusual shapes.

Baroque pearls were highly prized by Renaissance jewelers, who saw them not as misshapen products of sea mollusks but rather as unique and exquisite natural forms. They were often used in pieces of jewelry to form the bodies of figures.
A superb example is a piece from the 16th century known as the Canning Jewel (Victoria and Albert Museum, London), in which a large baroque pearl is used for the torso of a sea figure having the body of a man and the tail of a fish, the whole mounted in enameled gold set with pearls, rubies, and diamonds.

Pearls: Symbolism, Myths, Meaning
Pearls symbolize wisdom acquired through experience. They are believed to attract wealth and luck as well as offer protection. Known for their calming effect, pearls can balance one's karma, strengthen relationships, and keep children safe. The pearl is also said to symbolize the purity, generosity, integrity, and loyalty of its wearer.

Ancient Myths About the Pearl
Many myths and folktales surround this ancient gemstone of the sea.
Early Chinese civilization considered black pearls a symbol of wisdom and believed they were formed in a dragon's head. Once full-grown, the pearls were carried between the dragon's teeth. According to this myth, one had to slay the dragon to gather the pearls. The ancient Japanese believed that pearls were created from the tears of mythical creatures, such as mermaids, nymphs, and angels.
One Persian legend tells that pearls were created when a rainbow met the earth after a storm. Imperfections in a pearl's appearance were thought to be the result of thunder and lightning.

The ancient Egyptians prized pearls so much that they were buried with them. Cleopatra reportedly dissolved a pearl from one of her earrings in a glass of either wine or vinegar, depending on the source, and drank it. She did this just to show Mark Anthony that she could devour the wealth of an entire nation in just one gulp.
The pearl and ring are in excellent condition, with the ring band being a size 7 and can be re-sized if needed. The gold ring setting could be made into a pendant. This is an early and beautiful treasured Pearl.